Is it possible to wash a pleated skirt made of synthetic fabric in a machine or by hand?
A pleated skirt can be washed not only by hand, but also in a machine on a delicate cycle, but this must be done carefully. If you don’t follow some rules, the folds will smooth out and the item will look sloppy.
Remember that after improper washing it is almost impossible to recreate the original appearance of a pleated skirt. Therefore, it’s worth figuring out how to prepare this wardrobe item for hand and machine washing, what tricks will help preserve the beauty of the folds and how to properly dry the washed item.
Preparing the skirt
First of all, a piece of advice: do not wear your skirt, wash it after several wears so that it only needs to be refreshed, and not washed off from old stains or stubborn dirt. This is especially true for maxi models. The fact is that pleated fabrics are contraindicated from exposure to high temperatures and even minor friction. All this will lead to smoothing out the folds and will make subsequent ironing very difficult, especially if the fabric is made of polyester.
Before you start washing, be sure to sew all folds with wide stitches. To do this, it is better to use a white thread and do not tighten it, otherwise the fabric will be deformed.
Regardless of what type of wash you choose, prepare a mild detergent for delicate fabrics and conditioner - they will make the item pleasant to the touch and much easier to iron.
Another point that is important to remember: you can’t just put the skirt in the machine and turn on the program. Be sure to use a special bag or regular nylon stocking.
Once you have prepared the powder, conditioner and the skirt itself, you can put it in a bowl of water or in the drum of the washing machine.
Handwash
This is the most preferable option: since the fabric is not exposed to rough influence, the folds will retain their original shape.
Proceed like this:
- fill a basin with warm water and dissolve a little liquid detergent for washing delicate fabrics in it;
- put the skirt in this solution and wait a few minutes;
- after that, start washing, avoiding excessive friction, and under no circumstances twist the item;
- rinse the skirt in clean water (you will have to change it several times);
- During the final rinse, add a little conditioner to the water.
A pleated skirt that has just been washed does not need to be wrung out. Carefully hang it on the balcony on a special hanger so that water can drain into the basin.
Machine washable
This method can only be used if the machine has a delicate wash program at 30 degrees without a spin function, otherwise the process will have to be interrupted manually and immediately set to drain the water.
The skirt needs to be prepared. This can be done in two ways:
- Use in a nylon stocking. Roll the skirt into a tube along its length, making sure that the folds do not become deformed. Put it in a nylon stocking and send it to the machine. After finishing washing, hang the item to dry without removing it from the stocking - this will help preserve wrinkles.
- Use a bag for delicate washing. Carefully roll the item into a tube and place it in a bag.When the machine stops, take out the skirt and set it to dry.
For machine washing, as for hand washing, you must use liquid washing powder and conditioner. They are easily washed out of the fabric and the clothes will remain soft.
It is impossible to unequivocally answer the question of how to properly wash a pleated skirt - by hand or in a machine. In this case, each housewife must make her own choice. It is important not to neglect the preparation of the product, be sure to sew the folds and dry such clothes correctly. In this case, the item will always delight you with its appearance and will last for many years.